Horseshoe.



- W. E. MESSACAR.

HORSESHOE.

APPLICATION FILED 001.11, 1911.

' 1,030,478. Patented June 25, 1912.

Wicneses I lnvencor,

I )km. by

Attorneys,

ronrrn T FFT WILLIAM E. MESSACAR, OF ALBION, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE APEX HOBSESI-IOE 00., OF ALBION, MICHIGAN.

HOBSESHOE.

Application filed. October 11, 1911.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM E. Messa- CAR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Albion, in the county of Calhoun and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Horseshoe, of which the following is a specification.

The device herein disclosed is a horseshoe of the type shown in my prior patent. #074,653.

The objects of the present invention are to improve the shoe above referred to, so that the said shoe will wear off equally, thereby affording a level bearing, and preventing the animal from interfering at its knees.

A further object of the invention is to re inforce the shoe, both at its periphery, and in its central supporting portion.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings,Figure 1 shows the invention in bottom plan; Fig. 2 is a side elevation; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a detail perspective of one of the heel portions of the shoe.

The horseshoe herein disclosed, comprises a body 1, having a depending, relatively thin, gripping flange 2 about its entire periphery. The shoe is provided with a flexible support or pad 3, located between the heels of the shoe and having bifurcations 4 united with the body, the support 3 being extended beyond the heels of the shoe, and being provided terminally with a calk 5 depending below the flange 2, to elevate the heels of the shoe clear from the ground, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The bifurcations 4 are equipped with longitudinally eX- tended stiffening ribs 6 united adjacent the center of the shoe as shown at 7. The elements 6 perform not only the functions of stiffening ribs but also have the functions of calks. The heels of the shoe are rigid. In the angles defined by the body 1 and the flange 2, and located at the heels of the shoe, are reinforcing lugs 8, a reinforcing Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 25, 1912.

Serial No. 654,185.

lug 9 being located at the toe of the shoe, in the angle defined by the body 1 and the flange 2.

Owing to the fact that the pad 3 of the shoe is resilient, and owing to the fact that the heels are elevated clear of the ground by the heel calk 5, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the heels will be depressed by the weight of the animal, and come into full and fair hearing with the ground. So soon as the animal lifts its hoof in stepping, the heels due to the resiliency of the pad 3, will be free to return to their normally elevated positions, and the animal will thus be given a yielding foot movement which will facilitate its travel and avoid sore feet, spread hoofs and the formation of cracks and fissures in the hoofs.

Owing to the fact that the shoe is provided. with the continuous peripheral flange 2, instead of being provided with the toe calk, the wear upon the shoe will be substantially equal, entirely around the periphery of the shoe, it having been found that where the shoe is supported by a toe calk and a heel calk only, these elements are soon worn off, when a horse favors one portion of his hoof, owing to soreness or the like.

It has frequently happened heretofore, that the bifurcations 4 yield and press against the hoof to an unnatural and undesirable degree. To obviate this difficulty, the bifurcations 4 are stiffened and strengthened by the longitudinally extended ribs 6.

The reinforcement of the shoe afforded by the lugs 8 and 9 gives the shoe increased wearing qualities. Owing to the fact that the support 3 extends rearwardly beyond the heels of the shoe, the strain is taken off the flexor tendons in an animal having a sloping pastern.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is 1. A horseshoe comprising a body having a depending, relatively thin, gripping flange about its entire periphery, the shoe being provided with a spring support located between theheels and having bifurcations united with the body, the support being extended beyond the heels of the shoe and be ing terminally provided with a. calk depending below the flange, to elevate the heels, the bifurcations being equipped with longitudinal stiffening ribs, and the heels being rigid, there being reinforcing lugs located at the toe and at the heels, in the angles defined. by the body and the flange.

2. A horseshoe comprising a body having a depending, relatively thin, gripping flange about its entire periphery, the shoe being provided with a spring support located between the heels and having bifurcations united with the body, the support being terminally provided with a call: depending below the flange, and adapted to elevate the heels, the bifurcations being equipped with longitudinal stiffening ribs, and the heels being rigid, there being reinforcing lugs located at the toe and at the heels, in the angles defined by the body and the flange.

3. A horseshoe comprising a body having a depending, relatively thin, gripping flange about its entire periphery, the shoe being provided with a spring support located between the heels and having bifurcations united with the body, the support being extended beyond the heels, and being terminally provided with a calk extending below the flange and adapted to elevate the heels, the bifurcations being equipped with longitudinal stiffening ribs, and the heels being rigid.

4:. A horseshoe comprising a body having a spring support located between the heels, the support having bifurcations united with the body, the support being terminally provided with a calk adapted to elevate the heels clear of the ground, the heels being rigid, and the bifurcations being provided with longitudinal stiifening ribs.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WVILLIAM E. MESSACAR.

Witnesses:

F. M. BEAMAN, M. L. l/VI-IITE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents, Washington, D. C. 

